CONTROVERSY! in Yellow Springs…

Earlier this week, my team was alerted to a possible controversy in my quest to visit the oldest bar in every state. According to Thrillist.com, the oldest bar in Ohio is the Golden Lamb circa 1803 in Lebanon, Ohio. Shocking side note, it is the closest oldest bar to my location, but I have not visited it. I figure there is no hurry on low hanging fruit…but I digress. Word was sent to me that a bar called Ye Old Trail Tavern in Yellow Springs, OH, was claiming to be “Ohio’s oldest tavern” founded in 1827. How can they make such a statement? Are they questioning the Golden Lamb’s claim? I felt it was the duty of PugsleyTonks to investigate this claim and get the full story for my readers. So, on a snowy Saturday afternoon, my wife and I set off on an emergency investigation in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

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Before investigating the bar’s claim, I thought my readers would enjoy some background on Yellow Springs. Here in Ohio, it makes most of the state residents more comfortable if we keep all our hippies in the same place. That place is Yellow Springs, OH. In addition to giving them their own city, we also gave them a hippie training facility, called Antioch College. Do not look negatively on this arrangement. We do not treat them poorly in any way or force them to remain in Yellow Springs. We just make Yellow Springs the perfect hippie habitat so that they will remain in the area. The hippies have everything they need…there are many starving artist type businesses, multiple stores selling Birkenstocks, lots of coffee shops, bars, and very nice hiking/biking trails. They can shop at the organic grocery store, or grow there own food…and then compost it of course. There is a large solar panel array to provide clean energy. Actually, I don’t think the solar panels are connected to anything, but they are big and shiny which seems to make the hippies happy. Actually, it’s such a nice place that the rest of Ohio often makes it a day trip for restaurants, shopping or hiking/biking on the trails. The hippies are very friendly to visitors…just do not be a red neck jerk and show up in your MAGA hat.

Now, I need to get back to my investigation of Ye Old Trail Tavern. First off, it’s a great place. I have NO doubts of the bar’s claim of being around since 1827. The building, the woodwork, the low ceiling, the old black and white tiled floors, the warm hearth, the artifacts adorning the walls…all combine to take you back to a time many years ago. The menu features a lot of German dishes, but the place was decked out for St Patricks Day as well. There was no PBR, but the Bloody Mary was good. I would definitely have no issue with frequenting this place. There is even a nice patio outside for days when its not 30 degrees.

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While enjoying my Bloody Mary, I inquired as to how they can justify their claim of “Ohio’s oldest tavern” when the Golden Lamb is 25 years older. The official answer from Ye Old Trail Tavern was…the Golden Lamb is the oldest “restaurant,” we are the oldest “TAVERN.” Then we had a bit of discussion on what makes one a “restaurant” and one a “tavern.” In summation, it sounded to me like the famous quote in 1964 when US Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart described “obscenity”…”you know it when you see it.” I kind of get what there are saying…Golden Lamb is a higher-end place…more expensive…takes reservations…etc. But, Golden Lamb has a bar…serves alcohol…etc. I decided that I will reserve my final judgment until after visiting Golden Lamb. But, my initial instinct is to proclaim “shenanigans” on their claim as Ohio’s oldest tavern. As I have visited these oldest bars, they have covered the spectrum from dumps to fancy eating places. But, they all serve alcohol and they all have been in business since their claimed start date. I do not want to open the door for separate categories of establishments. Much too complicated for PugsleyTonks’ small pug brain.

But, what do you think? Fire off some opinions in the comment section below. PT

While in Yellow Springs, be sure to enjoy some hiking at Glen Helen Nature preserve…

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